The Academy Is… Break Up

Photo: Courtney Beckett

The Academy Is… have parted ways. The band issued the following statement:

“After nine years and three albums, The Academy Is… have decided to go our separate ways. We began in 2003 as three young friends in the suburbs of Chicago, with dreams of creating music that meant something to us. Dreams of leaving those suburbs behind and seeing all of the beautiful things that this world has to offer. Dreams of making a difference in the lives of others.

“It is now 2011 and we look back at the records we’ve made, the shows we’ve played, the places we’ve been. The people we’ve met.

“The Academy Is… has made its mark. We celebrate the experiences of our past, as we welcome what lies ahead. While we have never managed to make things easy on ourselves, it is safe to say that we have always found common ground in our love of music. And though we may not be together, you can look forward to hearing new music from each of us.

“The music we have made together is our gift to you. From this point on, The Academy Is… belongs to you. Feel free to listen. Listen as loud as you’d like.”

“I’m having a hard time starting this. I could say something like ‘pride comes before the fall,’ or ‘the skill in attending a party is knowing when to leave.’ Rather, I’m going to just come out and be honest. The September show in New York was the last show for The Academy Is. While this is a very difficult decision to make, I believe in my heart that it is the right decision to make. For years there has been a growing distance felt within the band as we’ve progressed, both geographically and artistically and instead of trying to patch the holes we’re left with, my heart tells me its time to move on with the next chapter in our lives. I want to thank the fans, the world’s greatest, for all of your love and support over the years. You helped shape who we are today and will continue to do so as we move toward what’s coming up around the corner.

“While this is the end of 8 unforgettable years of TAI, this is not the end of my story. Not by a long shot. I will be working on a new record in the coming months and have never felt more freedom and inspiration to create my best and most honest work yet. Obviously that means we won’t be going out on the Jack’s Mannequin tour but you should all still go since Andrew is one of our best friends and puts on an amazing show – you can get tickets here.

“Many of you have told me before how my words have helped you through tough or transitional times in your lives. You are the reason I make music. I hope I can count on your support as I embark upon new and exciting waters.